Hogshead splitter

ABSTRACT

Two arms are pivotally mounted to ends of a cross member and each have a pair of inwardly directed probes mounted on the lower ends thereof. A pneumatic cylinder connects the upper ends of the arms so that the entire device forms a jaw-like apparatus that is opened and closed by the pneumatic cylinder in response to operation of a control valve. The entire device is supported by an electrical hoist for positioning the device vertically and horizontally.

United States Patent Barnett et al.

[ 51 Oct. 3, 1972 HOGSHEAD SPLITTER [72] Inventors: Joseph Barnett, Wilson, N.C.; John D. Smith, Richmond, Va.

[73] Assignee: Export Leaf Tobacco Company,

Richmond, Va.

[22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 104,910

[52] US. Cl ..294/88 [51] Int. Cl ..B66c 1/10 [58] Field of Search ..294/88, 106

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,591 ,43 l 4/ 1952 Henggeler ..294/88 Warren .294/ 88 Vik .294/ 8 8 Primary Examiner-Even C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-J. Kenneth Silverman Attorr'zey- Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan& Kurucz ABSTRACT Two arms are pivotally mounted to ends of a cross member and each have a pair of inwardly directed probes mounted on the lower ends thereof. A pneumatic cylinder connects the upper ends of the arms so that the entire device forms a jaw-like apparatus that is opened and closed by the pneumatic cylinder in response to operation of a control valve. The entire device is supported by an electrical hoist for positioning the device vertically and horizontally.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of Invention This invention relates to a device for handling tobacco and more particularly to a device for removing offgrade tobacco uncovered during the inspection of a hogshead of tobacco.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been the practice in the tobacco industry to store prized-flue cured loose leaf tobacco in hogsheads for future use. It has been necessary to inspect these hogsheads prior to use for determining the quality of the tobacco stored therein and if any off-grade or damaged tobacco is present. In practice, the hogshead, which is a cask or barrel-type of container, was dismantled so that the packed tobacco was setting free'on a platform. The tobacco was then separated by the use of a break horse so that the interior of the hogshead could be properly inspected.

Heretofore, the off-grade or damaged tobacco was manually removed in an operation that was extremely time consuming and inefficient.

Thus, the devices of the prior art did not provide a means for rapidly removing portions of a hogshead of tobacco.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a hogshead splitter consisting of two arms pivoted about the ends of a cross member, each arm having a pair of inwardly directed probes mounted on the lower ends thereof. A pneumatic cylinder connects the upper ends of the arms so that the entire device forms a jaw-like apparatus that is opened and closed by the pneumatic cylinder in response to operation of a control valve. The arms have handles mounted thereon for manually directing the probes to the portion of the hogshead of tobacco that is to be removed. The probes ,are then forced into the hogshead by operation of the pneumatic cylinder. An electrical hoist is provided to lift the apparatus and the portion of the hogshead and to provide horizontal movement in any desired direction.

The hogshead splitter is operated by two individuals, one for controlling the position of each pair of probes. Once the probes are properly positioned, only one individual is required to operate the pneumatic control valve and the electrical hoist for removing the desired portion of the hogshead. Thus, the present invention provides a device for quickly and efficiently removing a portion of a hogshead of tobacco.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a device for removing portions of a hogshead of tobacco.

Another objective of the present invention is to increase the efficiency with which off-grade tobacco is removed from a hogshead of tobacco.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device for removing entire portions of a hogshead of tobacco.

The foregoing objectives and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood,

however, that the drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not to be considered as defining the limits of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a an elevational view of a hogshead splitter constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown with a hogshead in place, but with the probes not yet inserted.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the hogshead splitter shown in FIG. 1 with the probes inserted and a portion of the hogshead split away from the remainder of the hogshead.

FIG. 3 shows a left-side view of the hogshead splitter of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, two arms I and 3 are pivotally attached to a cross member 5. The arms and the cross member are constructed of hollow 2-inch square mechanical tubing. The ends of the cross member 5 have metal plates 6 welded thereto forming bifurcated receptacles for receiving the arms. A pair of gusset plates 7 and 9 are attached to arms 1 and 3, respectively adjacent the pivotal connections with the cross member for providing added strength to the arms in these areas of high stress.

Two bands 11 of quarter-inch metal are welded to cross member 5 at their lower ends. As shown in FIG. 3, these bands are bent at 10 in an outwardly direction and then bent inwardly at 12 to run parallel to each other. A spacer 13 is welded between bands 11 at position 12 to maintain the bands spaced apart. Two metal rods 15 are welded to the upper ends of bands 11 and have their ends flared outwardly for receiving a circular metal ring 17 which is welded between the rods.

Arms 1 and 3 have handles 19 and 21 attached near their lower ends. Two positioning and supporting bands 23 and 25, constructed of three-eight inch sheet metal having a radius equal to that of a hogshead of tobacco, are welded to arms 1 and 3, respectively, at a distance of approximately 20 inches from the lower ends of the arms. Two probe assemblies 27 and 29 are welded to the lower ends of arms 1 and 3, respectively. The probe assemblies each comprise a metal band similar to that used for positioning bands 23 and 25. Each of bands 27 and 29 have a pair of probes 31 welded thereto at positions substantially near the ends of the bands. The probes are formed of l-inch rod having one end tapered to a point and the other end mitered to fit the curvature of the bands so that the probes when welded to the bands are substantially parallel to each other.

A mounting plate 33 is welded to arm 1 near the uppermost end, and a mounting plate 35 is welded to arm 3 near the uppermost end. A pneumatic cylinder 37 having bifurcated terminals 39 and 41 is pivotally mounted between mounting plates 33 and 35. Pneumatic cylinder 37 is shown in its retracted position in FIG. 1 and in its extended position in FIG. 2. A fourway pneumatic control valve 51 has an input 42 connected to an air supply by a pneumatic supply line 43. Valve 51 also has an exhaust 44 connected to an exhaust line 45 which is vented to the atmosphere. Pneumatic lines 47 and 49 are connected between control valve 51 and the pneumatic cylinder 37. Pneumatic line 47 supplies air to the cylinder when it is desirable to extend the cylinder to its fullest length, while pneumatic line 49 supplies air to the cylinder when it is desired to retract the cylinder to a position as shown in FIG. 1. A pipe support 53 is attached to arm 1 for supporting pneumatic lines 43, 47 and 49.

The entire device as heretofore described is vertically supported by an electrical hoist having a hook 55 for receiving ring 17. The electrical hoist may be any commercially available model that provides both verti cal and horizontal movement.

In operation, a hogshead of tobacco 57, as shown in FIG. 1, is positioned beneath the hogshead splitter when the pneumatic cylinder is in its retracted position. The operators use handles 19 and 21 to position probes 31 to a point just below the tobacco that is to be removed from the hogshead 57. Valve 51 is activated to supply air through line 47 causing pneumatic cylinder 37 to extend to its fullest length thereby driving probes 31 into the tobacco. The electric hoist is activated to lift the tobacco from the hogshead as shown in FIG. 2. The tobacco is carried by the electric hoist to any desired location and deposited there by merely activating valve 51 to supply air through pneumatic line 49 to cause pneumatic cylinder 37 to retract there-by withdrawing probes 31 from the tobacco.

While this invention is described as using a pneumatic cylinder and an electrical hoist, the invention can be practiced by one skilled in the art using a hydraulic cylinder or a rack and pinion mechanism inplace of the pneumatic cylinder and by using pneumatic or hydraulic means in place of the electrical hoist.

Thus, the present invention provides a device for rapidly and efficiently removing a portion of the tobacco from a hogshead of tobacco. Only two men are required for operating the device and therefore a great amount of time and expense is saved by utilizing this device.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating and removing a portion of tobacco from a compressed mass of tobacco having a cylindrical shape of known diameter, comprismg:

a substantially horizontal cross member;

a pair of straight arms, each having upper and lower ends, said arms being spaced apart and pivotally mounted to the cross member for rotation in a vertical plane;

a pair of lower curved members, each having a radium substantially equal to that of the compressed mass of tobacco, said members mounted to the lower ends of the arms so that the members extend equally on each side of the arms;

probes mounted on each lower curved member and directed inwardly for gripping the portion of the tobacco to be removed;

a pair of upper curved members, each having a radium substantially equal to that of the compressed mass of tobacco, said members mounted to the arms at a position spaced from the lower ends so that the members extend equally on each side of the arms;

pressure operated means disposed between the arms for v ing the distance there t ween' means or operatlvey contro ling the pressure operated means; and I means for supporting and positioning the cross member so that the arms are positioned on each side of the mass of tobacco and the probes engage the portion of tobacco to be removed.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein each curved member has a radium lying in a plane that is perpendicular to the arm to which the curved member is attached.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure operated means comprises a pneumatic cylinder.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally including a four-way valve operatively connectedwith I,

the pressure operated means.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting and positioning the cross member includes a handle connected to each arm for positioning the cross member so that the arms are on each side of the mass of tobacco.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally including a substantially vertical member attached to the cross member and adapted for attachment to the means for supporting and positioning the cross member. 

1. An apparatus for separating and removing a portion of tobacco from a compressed mass of tobacco having a cylindrical shape of known diameter, comprising: a substantially horizontal cross member; a pair of straight arms, each having upper and lower ends, said arms being spaced apart and pivotally mounted to the cross member for rotation in a vertical plane; a pair of lower curved members, each having a radium substantially equal to that of the compressed mass of tobacco, said members mounted to the lower ends of the arms so that the members extend equally on each side of the arms; probes mounted on each lower curved member and directed inwardly for gripping the portion of the tobacco to be removed; a pair of upper curved members, each having a radium substantially equal to that of the compressed mass of tobacco, said members mounted to the arms at a position spaced from the lower ends so that the members extend equally on each side of the arms; pressure operated means disposed between the arms for varying the distance therebetween; means for operatively controlling the pressure operated means; and means for supporting and positioning the cross member so that the arms are positioned on each side of the mass of tobacco and the probes engage the portion of tobacco to be removed.
 2. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein each curved member has a radium lying in a plane that is perpendicular to the arm to which the curved member is attached.
 3. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure operated means comprises a pneumatic cylinder.
 4. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the pressure operated means comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
 5. An apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally including a four-way valve operatively connected with the pressure operated means.
 6. An apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the means for supporting and positioning the cross member includes a handle connected to each arm for positioning the cross member so that the arms are on each side of the mass of tobacco.
 7. An apparatus as described in claim 1, additionally including a substantially vertical member attached to the cross member and adapted for attachment to the means for supporting and positioning the cross member. 